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By Darcey McLaughlin

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The provincial minister for wellness, culture and sports says he is impressed with Miramichi's Mango Program.

City Coun. Jake McLaughlin, MLA Bill Fraser and a delegation from Miramichi met with Hédard Albert Wednesday to present the minister with the "Wellness Strategy for Miramichi Region."

Part of that strategy is funding for a full-time wellness coordinator. McLaughlin said while the minister listened to the group's request for a coordinator, Albert said he wasn't going to act on it right away as the government was holding a series of meetings leading to a report on wellness in the province.

"When we talked about the mango program ... they committed to ... seeing how they can enhance their program here in this region and how mango can help them embrace some of the things they're looking at within the province," McLaughlin said.

"One of the things that we emphasize with the mango program on the river is the very positive overture and the way it's being embraced by the whole community. Also I mentioned to the minister that the mango program has been geared to everyone in such a way that it's the most positive thing that's coming out of ... the community in the last number of years … and ... he recognized that," McLaughlin said.

The minister told the group while the province is looking at other similar programs, such as one from Saskatchewan, he was very impressed with Mango.

"We asked him that this program ... be endorsed and spread and enhanced throughout the whole province of new Brunswick ..." McLaughlin said.